Seat covering device



Apltfl W, 193, J. BRuEcKL SEAT COVERING DEVICE Filed April 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A TT( NE y April! 99, 1935. J. BRUECKL 1,999,569

SEAT COVERING DEVICE Filed April 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jalm wki

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 Mrs s'r'res PAT QFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to seat covers, and has particular reference to an improved device for protectively covering the seat and back of a cushioned automobile seat or the like.

While my invention is primarily directed toward the protective covering of automobile seats, and while I have herein illustrated and described my invention as the same may be embodied in a device for use in an automobile, nevertheless it will be understood that many phases of my invention are not necessarily restricted to such a specific application.

The present invention is an improvement upon the type of device illustrated and described in my Letters Patent No. 1,954,376. 7

The type of device to which my invention relates comprises a seat section and a back section, the two being associatedin hinged relationship by means of a rod which is disposed along the hinge axis. More particularly, the device comprises two U-shaped wire frames which define respectively, the contours of the seat and back sections, and which have their free ends provided with loops or eyes which engage around the opposite ends of the rod.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a device of improved characteristics, whereby the cost of manufacture is minimized, the adjustment and use of the device is facilitated, and the seat or cushion which is to be protected is shielded efficiently and with a maximum of safety.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a device which permits a reversibility of the device, whereby either of two fabrics of differing characteristics or appearance may be selectively exposed. In accordance with my present invention, this reversibility may be effected with a minimum amount of effort.

As in my copending application, heretofore mentioned, the rod which constitutes the hinge axis is provided at its opposite ends with clamp ing means for securing the ends of the wire frames in predetermined relationship; and in accordance with my present invention I provide a construction and arrangement of parts which reduces the likelihood of injury, by this clamping means, to the upholstery upon which the present device is used.

It is a characterizing feature of the present invention to offset the ends of each wire frame toward each other, .and in constructing the hinge rod of a length which is short enough to dispose the clamping means within the general confines of the device. This arrangement is coupled with a skirt that is carried by the hinge rod and which has a shielding portion arranged to lie alongside of the clamping means, thereby protecting the upholstery from undesirable frictional 5 contact.

The offset arrangement of the ends of the wire frames results, further, in providing shoulders which are adapted to cooperate in an efii cient manner with fabric sheaths that are applied endwise over the frames and which are provided with opposed pockets to accommodate these shoulders.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of a pair of protective devices of the present character shown, by way of example, in association with the rear cushioned seat of an automobile;

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the skirt in an adjusted position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line l l of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the present device, with the two sections shown in alignment and. with portions broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of associating each sheath with the corresponding frame; 3

Figure '7 is an exploded View of the arrangement of parts at each end of the hinge rod; and

Figure 8 is a perspective viewshowing the removable character of the fabric sheaths.

In Figure l, the seat to be protectively covered by the present device consists of the cushioned seat element it and the cushioned seat back it. These elements are constructed in a manner whereby a crevice is provided between them at the rear of the seat. In some cars the seat it is pushed rearwardly underneath the back it, thereby providing a crevice l2, as shown in Fig,- ure 2. In other cars the cushion iii abuts the front of the back it, thereby providing ,a crevice 13 of the character illustrated in Figure 3. The 5 present device is applicable to either type of construction.

Referring for the moment to Figures 5 and it will be observed that the present device con"- sists essentially of a red It, constituting the hinge axis of the device, and the opposed, U-shaped, wire frames 55 and i6. Theends ll of the frame I5 are offset toward each other, thereby providing the shoulders l8; and the ends 19 of the frame IE5 are similarly bent toward each other to provide the shoulders 29. The ends ll terminate in loops 2i which engage around the opposite ends of the rod M; and the ends 19 terminate in similar loops 22 which also engage around the ends of the rod i l.

The rod it is preferably threaded at its opposite ends, as indicated at 23, and is of a total length which is shorter than the width of the frames l5 and 56. In assembling the present device, a pair of clamping members is arranged over each end of the rod M to hold the contiguous loops 2! and 22, at that end, in firm mutual association. In the embodiment herein illustrated, the clamping members consists of the two nuts 2-?- and 25, and they are adapted to sandwich the co:- responding loops 2! and 22 between them in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. Spacing washers 26 are preferably employed in the relationship shown in Figure '7.

The arrangement is such that the clamping means, constituted of the clamping nuts 24 and 25 at each end of the rod It, lies entirely within the lateral confines of the device. This avoids the undesirable projection laterally of the opposite ends of the rod it, as is the case in the construction illustrated in my aforementioned copending application for patent. This projection of the clamping means has proven to be undesirable in practice, because it is likely to catch on the clothes or garments of the person sitting on the device, and it often results in injury to the upholstery of the seat itself.

In accordance with my present invention, the clamping means is rendered harmless by a further arrangement which shields the clamping members at each end of the rod i l from all likelihood of contact with the fabric or upholstery upon which the device is placed. A rigid skirt 2?, composed of fibre or similar sheet material, is carried by the rod i l and is provided with the shield portions 23 which are adapted to lie alongside of the clamping nuts at the opposite ends thereof. The shielding effect of the shield portions 28 is shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

The skirt 2'? is designed to fit into the seat crevice and, in accordance with my invention, it is preferably arranged in a plane parallel to but offset from the axis of the rod Hi. This is preferably accomplished by providing the attachment loops 29 which are rigidly secured to'the skirt ill and which engage snugly, but loosely, around the rod I4, in the manner illustrated most clearly in Figures 2 and 3. The axis of the looped ends of the elements 29 is offset from the plane of the skirt 21.

Where the crevice is of the horizontal type illustrated in Figure 2, the skirt 2'5 is mounted on the rod M, as illustrated in this figure, whereby the skirt 2'! aligns itself substantially with the seat section of the device. In this instance, the shield 28 underlies the clamping nuts at the opposite ends of the rod is and prevents contact between these nuts and the fabric of the seat ill. Where the crevice is of the type illustrated in Figure 3, the skirt 27 is removed from the rod l4 and reapplied in the relationship shown in Figure 3, in which case the skirt 2? aligns itself substantially with the back section of the device and underlies the clamping nuts behind the latter,

thereby preventing contact between these nuts and the cushion or back I I.

Each of the frames I5 and i6 is shaped to the contour desired, and is adapted to receive thereover a specially constructed fabric sheath which is applied endwise in a removable yet snugly fitting manner. The term fabric is intended to refer to any convenient type of relatively pliable sheet material, suitable for seat covering purposes. The fabric may be of cloth, it may be rubberized, it may be of woven matting, or the like.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated the preferred method of forming each sheath. Two plies of material 38 and 3! are superposed, each conforming substantially to the contour of the corresponding frame, and a binding 32 is applied to three edges by means of stitching 33. This binding preferably extends along the fourth edge of one of the plies, as shown most clearly in Figure 6, but purposely fails to engage the fourth edge of the other ply, so that a pocket or opening is provided in the fourth edge of the sheath. In Figure 6, I have shown the binding 32 extending along the fourth edge of the ply 30, whereby the corresponding edge of the ply 3! is left free. This construction provides an opening which is of slightly reduced size, whereby a sort of pocket is formed at each of the opposite ends of the opening. When the sheath is applied to the frame, e. g., the frame 15, it fits quite snugly and has to be pulled down over the frame. When applied to its fullest extent, the shoulders l8 snap into engagement with thepockets above mentioned, and serve to hold the sheath frictionally in its fully applied position. The same holds true with respect to the sheath that engages over the frame it, the shoulders 20 serving to accommodate themselves within the pockets that are correspondingly formed at the opposite ends of the opening of the sheath 34.

When it is desired to reverse the sheaths, either singly or jointly, it is merely necessary to exert a pulling force upon the sheath, whereupon it may be withdrawn endwise from its frame, turned around, and reapplied with the opposite ply uppermost.

It will be understood that changes in the details, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. In a seat-cover device, comprising hinged back and seat sections, a rod constituting the hinge axis, a pair of ,U-shaped wire frames defining the contours of said back and seat sections, respectively, the ends of each frame being offset toward each other to provide shoulders, and terminating in loops which engage the opposite. rod ends, respectively, means at each rod end for releasably clamping together the two loops engaging said end, and a fabric sheath removably applicable endwise in snugly fitting relation to each frame, each sheath comprising two superposed plies conforming to the contour of the corresponding frame and bound together along three edges, thereby providing an opening along the fourth edge, said opening being of slightly reduced size to provide opposed pockets for said shoulders.

2. In a seat-cover device comprising hinged back and seat sections, a rod constituting the hinge axis, a pair of U-shaped wire frames defining the contours of said back and seat sections, respectively, said frames having a width greater than the length of said rod, the ends of each frame being ofiset toward each other and terminating in loops which engage the opposite rod ends, respectively, and means at each rod end for releasably clamping together the two loops engaging said end.

3. In a seat-cover device comprising hinged back and seat sections, a rod constituting the hinge axis, a pair of U-shaped wire frames defining the contours of said back and seat sections, respectively, the ends of each frame terminating in loops which engage the opposite rod ends, respectively, means at each rod end for releasably clamping together the two loops engaging said end, and a rigid skirt carried by said rod and insertable into the seat crevice, said skirt having a shield portion underlying said clamping means.

4. In a seat-cover device comprising hinged back and seat sections, a rod constituting the hinge axis, a pair of ,U -shaped wire frames defining the contours of said back and seat sections, respectively, the ends of each frame terminating in loops which engage the opposite rod ends, respectively, means at each rod end for releasably clamping together the two loops engaging said end, and a skirt of rigid, fiat material carried by said rod and insertable into the seat crevice, said skirt being disposed in a plane offset from the hinge axis and having a shield portion underlying said clamping means.

JOHN BRUECKL. 

